Idaho County free press. [volume] (Grangeville, Idaho Territory) 1886-current, 1887-06-10
OUR OPPORTUNITY.
What May be Expected sCIten the
RaiLrOud Reaches Us.

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The prospects and general outlook for
,amas prairie at this time are more
and encouraging than we have
aver known them. 1t is almost GER
ainty that at least one line of railroad
The Idaho Northern-will be construct
ed across the prairie Immediately upon
the completion of the surveys now being
made, and the prospects are very favor
able that another line-the st. Paul and
Manitoba road-will descend the Bitter
root range and down the Clearwater
near enough to ensure competition be-
tween the two lines. 1t will take at
least two or three years to complete the
railroad building that is now contempla-
ted, and during that time the productive
capacity of Camas prairie will be taxed
to the utmost to supply the demand for
every product our farmers can
furnish, and everything that is sold will
command first-class prices. Some of our
people seem to think that as soon as the
rush of railroad building is over that
everything will settle down to syste-
matte and slow going routine that will
be lamentably monotonous to the hardy
class of ''old-timers" who have never
been accustomed to railroads, but if it is
going to be any duller than it is at pres
ent it passes our comprehension what is
going to make 1t 80. We do not expect
to see such radical changes. Outside of
the reservation there are not more than
ten townships of good farming lands and
allowing that every acre of these town
ships be placed under the most COM
plete and systematic tillage, the pro-
ducts will never much, if any more than
supply the home demand, We do not
believe that any of the great minds that
are planning the construction of any of
the railroads that are to penetrate this
section Of country expect any consider
able revenue from the transportation of
our agricultural products seward. The
history Of transportation in this section
is that freighting has always been into
the country instead of out of it. In
other W prds, we import everything and
export nothing, nor do we apprehend
that railroad facilities will materially
change this state of affairs. 1t is our
opinion that whenever the railroads are
constructed, the demand for all the ag-
ricultural products that Camas prairie
can furnish from its tillable lands, will
find a home market at remunerative
prices.
And why not? Thousands of people
will flock into this county. There will
be discoveries of mineral in its I'M
known and unprospected territory that
will make our grand old mountain ran
ges reverberate with the thunder oil
mill stamps. These bunch grass hills
will be covered even more densely than
now with herds of cattle and sheep.
The numbering interests in our virgin
forests will employ hundreds of men.
Flourishing towns will spring up where
now there is not a single soul. Exist
ing towns will develop into cities. Land
that is now purchasable at four and six
dollars per acre will rapidly grow in
value town lots that can now be pur-
chased at $50 or 800, will sell more
readily at from $500 to 5000. There will
be demand for every pound of grain
butter, beef, pork, lard, etc., etc., thai
can be spared wool, hides, lumber-iu
fact, everything that can be offered fol
sale will bring a fair price, and thai
price will be cash.
With these prospects right before las
We may soon expect to see life, hustle
and general activity on every hand
There will be no excuse for idleness
The Indications are that by this time
next summer every branch of business
will be booming and every laborer Cal
find paid employment, and the far,neI
who heretofore has had no ambition
than to raise just enough hay and grail
for his own use, will be given an opror
tunity to supply railroad contractors a
his own figures. The farming commun
ity will come out money ahead if the,
prepare themselves for the good time
that are gurely coming.